World Series of Fighting Interested in Acquiring Former UFC Contender Jon Fitch

It didn't take long for Jon Fitch to gain the interest of other mixed-martial arts promotions following his release from the UFC earlier this week.

Ali Abdel-Aziz, the vice president and matchmaker for World Series of Fighting, confirms to Bleacher Report that they have begun preliminary discussions to potentially bring Fitch to the up-and-coming promotion in 2013.

While no formal offer has been made, Abdel-Aziz says that they have talked to Fitch's management team since his release and are interested in the services of the former UFC welterweight contender.

"We would be honored to have Jon Fitch in our promotion," said Abdel-Aziz speaking to Bleacher Report on Friday. "He is one of the top welterweights in the sport."

Fitch's UFC run came to a shocking end earlier this week when UFC president Dana White revealed that the former title contender had been released following his loss to Demian Maia at UFC 156 earlier this month.

Overall, Fitch went 14-3-1 with the UFC during his tenure with the promotion where he sat near the top of the welterweight division for much of his career.

His lone title shot came at UFC 87 in 2008 where Fitch lost to champion Georges St-Pierre. That story later became the subject of a documentary called Such Great Heights that followed Fitch from his training camp all the way to the title-fight loss to St-Pierre.

As soon as Fitch was released, many wondered how long it would take the American Kickboxing Academy welterweight to find a new home, and while Bellator president Bjorn Rebney said his promotion wasn't interested in the services of the former UFC fighter, it appears other organizations are actively looking into signing him.

World Series of Fighting recently signed a multi-year, multi-show deal with NBC Sports Network to broadcast their shows. Their second card takes place on March 23 when two former UFC fighters square off as Andrei Arlovski meets Anthony Johnson in the main event.

Fitch has not been offered a contract yet with World Series of Fighting, but they are definitely interested in acquiring him if the right deal can be struck.

Damon Martin is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.